Right, more detailed twitter thread summary of the Anno editorial before I do other stuff (and maybe go out somewhere later).
I’ll add my article for Otaquest on this to the end of the thread once it goes online
Here’s a link to Anno’s article once more
I’ll add my article for Otaquest on this to the end of the thread once it goes online
Here’s a link to Anno’s article once more
Anno viewed the article as his responsibility in light of reporting which linked the arrest of the current director of Gainax for inappropriate conduct with a voice actor including naked photos, because reports about it being the Evangelion studio made it seem like it was him
He found it as a responsibility to Evangelion, staff who worked on it and his studios to speak out about this.
Gainax no longer have responsibility for the franchise, after all, yet still hold it within the public perception and this, he views, is something needing clarity
Gainax no longer have responsibility for the franchise, after all, yet still hold it within the public perception and this, he views, is something needing clarity
He starts by talking about the creation of Color and Khara, first by giving context of the original Eva series’ creation
Originally Anno and King Records (major company on the production committee) planned to make it away from Gainax, before making there with external assistance
Originally Anno and King Records (major company on the production committee) planned to make it away from Gainax, before making there with external assistance
The success meant more money was coming into the company than ever, yet they were losing money due to mismanagement on various projects in the years since.
Money was also disproportionately going to ‘management who did nothing’ and not low-paid staffers
Money was also disproportionately going to ‘management who did nothing’ and not low-paid staffers
Additional context: at the time Gainax president Sawamura, who partially convinced Anno to make Eva at the studio, was one of two people arrested for tax evasion by hiding the true scale of studio profits from the series animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-11-1…
Anno tried to make a difference after mismanagement of the studio continued even after this case, and this is how he learned of the pay disparities.
Attempts to change the company failed, so he decided to recreate Eva away from the company, and formed Color Inc. and Khara
Attempts to change the company failed, so he decided to recreate Eva away from the company, and formed Color Inc. and Khara
A deal was reached for commercial rights from the movies to be given to Khara, while copyright and merchandising remained at Gainax, viewed as mutually beneficial
Delays to royalties owed by Gainax began to stall in 2012, however, and payment plans to recover debts were made
Delays to royalties owed by Gainax began to stall in 2012, however, and payment plans to recover debts were made
In 2014 the situation at Gainax was bad enough that long-term friend Takeda went to Anno stating he needed 100 million yen in 3 days, or he’d be in trouble.
A deal was made, part of which included a transfer of all rights for Eva to Color and Khara one year sooner than planned
A deal was made, part of which included a transfer of all rights for Eva to Color and Khara one year sooner than planned
IF payments were made on time, however, there was no interest.
Separate from the loan, Anno tried to purchase rights for FLCL and Aim for the Top from Gainax because of the precarious position the company was in. Discussions progressed before suddenly the price was raised 6x
Separate from the loan, Anno tried to purchase rights for FLCL and Aim for the Top from Gainax because of the precarious position the company was in. Discussions progressed before suddenly the price was raised 6x
It turned out later that the intervention of banks meant that money was needed to be raised by Gainax, leading to the sale of their properties to the highest bidder, including others.
Money was more important than the works, so FLCL went to the company happy to pay the most
Money was more important than the works, so FLCL went to the company happy to pay the most
Note, there has been some misinformation on this front, as I explain here in these tweets.
The loan and attempts to buy rights for FLCL/Aim for the Top were unrelated.
Speculation suggesting otherwise isn’t rooted in anything stated by Anno here
The loan and attempts to buy rights for FLCL/Aim for the Top were unrelated.
Speculation suggesting otherwise isn’t rooted in anything stated by Anno here
At this time, Anno requested Gainax detail the company’s financial situation and provide details on their repayment schedule. They were willing to accept delays if this was done.
All that he was informed about was payments would be made without issue.
All that he was informed about was payments would be made without issue.
April 2016: delays again, and requests for info were ignored.
This, coupled with the sudden opening of companies relating to Gainax like Gainax West and Gainax Niigata led to concern on Evangelion’s rights.
Anno filed for provisional foreclosure of Gainax at this time
This, coupled with the sudden opening of companies relating to Gainax like Gainax West and Gainax Niigata led to concern on Evangelion’s rights.
Anno filed for provisional foreclosure of Gainax at this time
Even after success here, payments weren’t made, so a lawsuit followed.
This was successful, but it led to the realization that much of what was once Gainax was transferred to Fukushima Gainax (now Gaina), including the entire animation division in 2016
This was successful, but it led to the realization that much of what was once Gainax was transferred to Fukushima Gainax (now Gaina), including the entire animation division in 2016
Present-day Gainax is nothing but a shell of its former self, which brings us to the present day.
The Gainax which made Evangelion no longer exists, and referring to the studio as such is misleading.
Reporting like this was essentially the straw breaking the camel’s back.
The Gainax which made Evangelion no longer exists, and referring to the studio as such is misleading.
Reporting like this was essentially the straw breaking the camel’s back.
Even laying the facts out here it fails to truly represent the anger and sadness felt by Anno in his writing for what happened.
I’ll add my piece to a tweet at the end once it’s online (waiting on that), and my initial tweet since that has traction so people sharing have details
I’ll add my piece to a tweet at the end once it’s online (waiting on that), and my initial tweet since that has traction so people sharing have details
It’s VERY rare to see an anime director as candid and open about issues such as this, which is partially what makes the information revealed here so impactful and the article’s existence such a major deal.
For @otaquest: my piece summarising the content of Hideaki Anno’s editorial on Gainax and Evangelion, discussing company mismanagement and more from his time interacting with the company in the year’s since his departure otaquest.com/hideaki-anno-g…
